Pembroke, a charming Welsh village, its Norman Castle and its natural surroundings.
Pembroke, Welsh "Pembroke"It is located on the River Pembroke, a 155 km of Cardiff, capital of Wales and 390 km from London. Its name means "the end of the earth" and comes from two words Pen = End or head and Bro = region.
As elsewhere in the country Gales, region Pembrokeshire It enjoys a wonderful natural environment and Pembroke, Properly said, It is located in a privileged spot south of Pembrokeshire Coast National Park. At a distance of between 6 Y 16 km in any direction are beautiful coasts and beaches Angle, Barafundel Bay, Freshwater O Tenby.
The city of Pembroke is a lovely walk that ends in Norman Castle and before entering this castle, interesting walk, go and enjoy. In its main street, Main Street, inserts will find the most varied shops in the typical constructions of the Welsh people, with a colorful feature of this beautiful town. Finding from the post office to, Small hotels and restaurants, as well as churches and art galleries.
Arriving at the pond, Mill Pond, it is advisable to stop on the bridge over Northgate Street good views from both the Castle and the lake and its surroundings are obtained. Walking along Mill Pond is also very pleasant and serves as a first approach to the surrounding nature.
Parallel to the main street is Commond Road on which we will find a beautiful playground for children called Lower Common Park, large park extension, divided by Commond Street Road and can be visited quietly walk by way of walk, where vegetation is varied and colorful attractive especially during periods of seasonal change.
Pembroke has a railway station as well as bus lines short, medium and long distance. A few kilometers from Pembroke is the city of Lamphey where you can visit what was once the palace of Bishops (Bishops Palace)
A little history
In the history of the city it is undoubtedly the Castillo who becomes very relevant. It is located in a prominent area of the city, surrounded on three sides by the call rio Cleddau and on cliffs in which lies the caverna natural Wogan. While the occupation of the area would not have been constant, It can be considered over 12.000 years ago, there would be people in place. The cavern, under the castle, The Wogan, talks about the occupation of the area in the Paleolithic period, It has been found stone tools in it. They have also been found in neighboring areas, artifacts from the Bronze Age, which could confirm the roaming population at different times. Some evidence suggests that a fortification of the Iron Age would be available at the place where it is today the castle built by the tribes that inhabited the area. So also the Roman period coins, found in the place, the use of the cave as a shelter or perhaps military purposes at times spoken in the Roman Empire dominated the area.
protagonists
There are many personalities who were part of the history of Pembroke and to some extent influenced both the construction of the Castle and the evolution of the city:
It could be considered that the history of Pembroke Castle and its fortification start from the eleventh century with the first wooden buildings, in the place where today the courtyard is, by Roger Montgomery, Normando cousin King William the Conqueror. Roger had provided many ships for the invasion of England and went to his Potentate important time and personality of the Anglo Norman nobility. In 1094 Roger delivered the castle to his son Arnulf who continue to develop and create there a manor where they were granted broad powers barons in exchange for quell local opposition, then the area was divided into plots spread between the Anglo Normans invaders. Later and for more than 100 years continues to expand the fortification of the city bordering it with a large stone wall. Arnulf established Priorato Benedictino de Monkton in memory of one of his brothers and dedicated to St. Nicholas and St. John, leaving the chapel in the castle in possession of the Priory. In 1102 Anrulf and his brother Robert were raised against the King of England Henry I, but they were defeated and sections of the site, It is believed to Anrulf fled to Ireland Pembroke leaving in the hands of the King. Henry I died in 1135 after a tyranny trying to maintain control over all your domains, It was when there was a horrible civil war. Then Stephen, as successor of King, as a way to gain support, granted numerous counties that would be independent of the crown semi. In 1138 It is created Pembroke County will become increasingly more independence. With the reign of Henry II It begins in the area an era of stability. From 1171 Castle County and Pembroke to the crown is definitely anexarían.
It could be said then that the city of Pembroke great development begins with the arrival of the Normandos in the eleventh century. It was they who would install a kind of wooden fortress on the site now occupied by the castle. Beginning years later stone construction. A landmark of the castle is the circular tower that would have been built in times of William Marshall, Earl of Pembroke and important character of the Middle Ages in both Wales and England. Marshall was the son of Strongbow, who beat Ireland and dealt largely on the reconstruction of the castle in the thirteenth century. The strategic position of Pembroke made the place an area conducive to the Normans becoming its main base.
It is partly this location, what has made the area, conflict zone and ongoing power struggle, between the crown, Anglo Normans and local and those who wanted the union of Wales, It is succeeding various characters who took part in the conquest, union and raisining. A character like Williams de Valance, branded arrogant and cruel, He felt, but nevertheless, great affection for Pembroke, taking the castle as a residence and took care of beautifying.
In the thirteenth century occurred two wars for independence for Wales, although they develop in northern, somehow affected area. A Valance is succeeded by his son Aymer Quine will be declared Earl of Pembroke, but he did not stay there for long periods. several periods of relative peace followed then. When Aymer dies 1324, It is succeeded by a child 6 years, the grandson of his sister, lord Lawrence Hasting, who would win glory, in the so-called war 100 years, capturing the entire French fleet. He will be succeeded by his son John, another child 1 year-old who will be the Earl of Pembroke 21 years, and have ambitions for France, but he will be defeated and killed in 1375. succeeded by his son, another boy also named John who did not reach adult, He is killed in a tournament for his best friend and so he dies with the title of Earl of Pembroke. The castle remained under the protection of the crown.
The story of Pembroke and its Castle, They have left a legacy that will be of great importance not only in Wales but across Britain. It was the birthplace of the Tudor dynasty. In 1457 He was born here who would be King of England, Henry VII, whose uncle Jasper Allr had reached the castle as Count. Jasper was the son of Catherina de France Y Owen Tudor, Welsh landowner and soldier. Centuries later, in the seventeenth century Pembroke also suffers the vicissitudes of civil war, the castle was affected and part of the city wall were demolished. In the XIX century, the castle was virtually, ruins. In 1880, an antiquarian called Cobb, takes the Pryse family leased the castle to intervenirlo so to stop its deterioration. It restores one of the gateways. He follows Sir Philip who continues with the restoration in 1928. Some troops occupied the castle partly in World War II, some restoration work being continued.
On a visit to the castle of Pembroke we can see inside and in the various rooms, scenes depicting various episodes from the life of the many characters who lived.
The architecture Castle follows the characteristics of the different times that the great lords wished to see reflected in the walls that made her residence. Therefore it is possible to see elements of various architectural styles. Its main walls, They are limestone, own place. While the castle has been rebuilt found for example that the Norman Hall, still maintains its Romanesque character, the same is observed in the fireplace on the first floor and some windows. Some of the reconstructions of the castle took place when architecture, the Romanesque gave way to Gothic in a style known as Transition and it is not easy to find in many buildings of the era, but Pembroke Castle, They can clearly be seen in the main tower, particularly in their windows where coexist both styles, Gothic and Romanesque, as well as one of the entrances to the castle on the cave Wogan. also observed, according periods, architectural elements called English Gothic (Early English Gothic y Decorated Gothic) as well as other influenced by Renaissance. In striking to note that the rooms in the castle are circular.
Castle takes real importance for the city. It is one of the largest in Wales and is among the most important castles in Britain. It was the center of government of great Lords which is reflected in its dimensions, but it was a castle seat of various Barons who were influential in British politics. Opposite the Castle Church seen Priory of Monkton, both buildings are clearly representative symbol of the authorities, the aristocracy and the Church.
Today the Castle is managed by a charitable foundation who also owns the same. The castle offers various activities and performances that reflect the way of life in medieval times where the public can, besides appreciate actively involved.
My thanks to all the people of Pembroke, authorities, as also to those who make the castle and the city what it is today, all who have enriched my knowledge and have made the period of my stay in the city has been enjoyable and rewarding.
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